Footprints of Franklin

Franklin has been my home ever since I was born, and I love living here. Early members of my family have been here since the mid-1800s on farms that have remained in our family for 100-150 years. For as long as I can remember, I have heard stories of Franklin and its people, about what life was like in the past and how things have changed.

As I grew up, I too became a witness and a participant in the changes that occurred in Franklin. In the early 1950’s when the one-room schools closed and the original Ben Franklin School was built, I was among one of the first classes there. Then, years later, when Franklin High School opened my 8th grade class was moved into the building. Through the years, I have seen farmland disappear and subdivisions built, the Industrial Park developed, and the Civic Center moved to an area near my childhood home.

I also love history, especially family histories and local history. That is one reason why I found it interesting to talk to families in Franklin and do further research when writing the stories that appear in this book. So after retiring from teaching, I was encouraged to join the Franklin Historical Society by Al Block, founder and former president of the society.

I was invited to write a history column for a Franklin newspaper called The Citizen (later The Chronicle). The column was called “Historically Speaking.” Three years and 80 stories later, the column ended. When that happened, I was encouraged to publish these additional stories in order to preserve the history of Franklin. A grant from WaterStone Bank made the book possible, enabling readers to learn more about what made Franklin the city it is today.

The following are excerpts from the book, Footprints of Franklin.